Federal landmarks: historical, recreational, monumental

It’s well known that naturally blessed Washington has three national parks: Mount Rainier, Olympic and North Cascades. We reviewed those Sept. 30. The state also has many other federally preserved sites of interest — historical, recreational and monumental. Here’s an overview of some of those lesser-known, special places.

Fort Vancouver National Historic Site

612 E. Reserve St., Vancouver, Wash.

Fort Vancouver was the administrative headquarters and main supply depot for the Hudson’s Bay Co.’s fur-trading operations in the 1830s and 1840s and was the center of political, cultural and commercial activities in the Pacific Northwest. Administered by the National Park Service.

Lake Chelan National Recreation Area

Stehekin Valley, between the north end of Lake Chelan and North Cascades National Park

Boating, fishing, and lakeshore camping are available in this remote area, which is part of the North Cascades National Park Service Complex of North Cascades National Park and the Ross Lake National Recreation Area. Administered by the National Park Service.

Lake Roosevelt National Recreation Area

Upriver on the Columbia from Grand Coulee Dam in Eastern Washington

A 130-mile lake was created with completion of Grand Coulee Dam in 1941. The recreation area provides opportunities for boating, fishing, swimming, camping, canoeing, hunting and visiting historic Fort Spokane and St. Paul’s Mission. Administered by the National Park Service.

Nidoto Nai Yoni Memorial National Historic Site

The site of the former Eagledale ferry dock on Bainbridge Island, at the foot of Taylor Street

The site commemorates an event of March 30, 1942, during World War II, when 227 Japanese Americans were put on ferries to Seattle and sent to internment camps. Administered by the National Park Service and connected to Minidoka Internment National Historic Site in Idaho.

San Juan Island National Historical Park

Friday Harbor

The park is made up of the sites of the British and U.S. armies’ camps during the Pig War. The camps were set up in 1859 in response to a border dispute triggered by the killing of a pig. Administered by the National Park Service.

Whitman Mission National Historic Site

Just west of Walla Walla

On Nov. 29, 1847, the family of Dr. Marcus Whitman and others were slain by Indians of the Cayuse tribe after a deadly measles outbreak. The site marks the role the Protestant mission played in white settlement and the demise of native civilization. Administered by the National Park Service.